Stephen is taking one for the Iona team

Fundraisers for Iona’s new village hall have been thanked for their ‘Junerosity’.

Plans are afoot to replace Iona’s much-loved 90-year-old village hall with a fit-forpurpose, multi-use building to meet the needs of the community, estimated to cost under £2.2 million and be completed by summer 2020.

Iona Village Hall Community Trust were given a huge £903,888 boost by the Big Lottery Fund, with the island having to raise the remaining £1.2 million by December 2018.

The trust has so far raised £1,050,817 on its Just Giving page, and said it has been ‘blown away’ by fundraisers’ enthusiasm and ideas.

Stephen Erdal, who has spent many holidays on Iona, is raising funds by getting a World Cup haircut, as chosen by 56 supporters.

‘I don’t expect you to donate without being able to ladle on a bit of abject humiliation,’ he explained. ‘The World Cup is upon us. Being Scottish, I have no interest in this whatsoever. But we have seen some truly special hairdos in international football over the years.

‘So here’s the deal. If you donate to this amazing community, you get to vote for an iconic soccerball haircut. It will be my haircut for the entire duration of England’s journey in the World Cup. I’m not doing this cheap. We need to raise £500 before razor touches scalp.’

He’s raised £1,045 already. The options were the Charlton Combover, the Keegan Perm, the Gazza Bleach Job, the Becks Mohican, and Whatever Ronaldo Was Going For In 2002. Stephen visited the barber on Friday, and Ronaldo’s barnet won the day, below.

The Iona Primary School Runners are attempting a combined marathon on Monday June 25, and Finlay Macdonald is planning to play 72 holes of golf in one day – Glencruitten, Craignure, Tobermory then Iona – on July 11, with a target of £1,000.

You can donate to any or all of the above via their Just Giving web pages.